Legislative Advocacy: Have No Fear!

Legislative Advocacy: Have No Fear! Go GETM! Glenda Dashiell, Columbia SD Edri Geiger, Vancouver SD Tricia Lubach, Quincy SD Michael Kelly, Centralia SD

What is your Advocacy Status? This is not a test! Do a quick check-up to see if you have the fundamentals to successfully engage at both state and federal levels.

What is your Advocacy Status? How did you do? Are you surprised?

Effective advocacy work is extremely important • What gaps did you identify? What is your Advocacy IQ? • As a school board • As a director • As WSSDA member

The importance of legislative advocacy

It’s all about relationships • The way you influence people is by building relationships with them • Takes time • Requires persistence

Building Relationships • Learn about your legislators • Most effective means of communication • What information is most useful to them • What their interests are

Building Relationships • Learn about your legislators • Their personal lives/family • Their professional lives • Political views • Committee assignments

Building Relationships Learn about your legislators Most effective means of communication What information is most useful to them What their interests are

Building Relationships “Every legislator is different, but they all go back to the people they represent and have to live with the laws they create.” Megan Walsh, Legislative Assistant for 25 years

Building Relationships Become an “Education Expert” - their go-to person to contact when they need information about an education issue

Building Relationships Make yourself memorable -Do some homework about legislators -Find something you have in common -Wear a name tag & give them your card -Remind them of your last visit

Building Relationships • Getting started: • Get involved at local level, work your way up • Bill yourself as Elected Official representing school district constituents • School directors often seen more as school volunteers than elected officials, but many have more power than most local mayors & city councils

Building Relationships • It’s not as hard as it sounds • Take it slowly, building relationships over time • Don’t force it • You don’t have to know everything • Short and sweet wins the race

Building Relationships Know the hierarchy Legislators will always prioritize their constituents first, so start with your own legislators

Building Relationships • Make your efforts year-round • Invite legislators to your district • Visit them in Olympia • Communicate with them regularly, not just when you need something • Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Building Relationships • Work with WSSDA’s experts • Marie Sullivan is WSSDA’s Director of Governmental Relations • Read her legislative updates during session • Get information from her about legislation & legislators • Attend Legislative Boot Camps and other trainings

“But I’m not a politician!” You are an elected official just like the legislators and the governor You represent the same constituents Have no fear!

Core Principals of Effective Advocacy Remember who your constituents are…

Core Principals of Effective Advocacy • Education supporters: • Are varied • Can hold different perspectives • May have competing interests

Core Principals of Effective Advocacy Education competes for resources …even after McCleary

Core Principals of Effective Advocacy Alldecisions are political

Core Principals of Effective Advocacy Good laws take time Easier to kill a bill than pass one

Core Principals of Effective Advocacy An opponent today may be a friend tomorrow Don’t burn bridges

Core Principals of Effective Advocacy Quality NOT quantity matters

Core Principals of Effective Advocacy • Be a problem solver: provide solutions • Become an expert to your legislators • Find out how they receive & use info • Provide info in their preferred format

Resources Review Legislator fact sheet pg. 9-11 Goal: Get to know as much as possible about each legislator

Plan for Effective Advocacy How will I bring this information back to my board? What are some easy ways we can start an advocacy program or kick ours up a notch? What are our biggest goals in this area? What is my role?

Plan for Effective Advocacy • Short-term (year) & long-term plan • Goals • Action steps • Benchmarks • Self-evaluation • Timelines • Identify opportunities for board to do work together

Legislative Advocacy Where can I get more information? Questions & Answers

Legislative Advocacy: Have No Fear!